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T.J. Miller leaving ‘Silicon Valley’: Will he get a farewell Emmy hug?

HBO announced this week that “Silicon Valley” will return for a fifth season, but right on the heels of that renewal comes news that co-star T.J. Miller won’t be coming back with the show. The premium cable network said in a statement, “The producers of ‘Silicon Valley’ and T.J. Miller have mutually agreed that T.J. will not return for season 5. In Erlich Bachman, T.J. has brought to life an unforgettable character, and while his presence on the show will be missed, we appreciate his contribution and look forward to future collaborations.”

Miller has been with “Silicon Valley” since the very beginning playing the scene-stealing role of Erlich Bachman, who runs a business incubator out of his home and becomes part of the Pied Piper tech startup created by Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch). Miller has become a fan favorite on the show, and he has also been a critics’ favorite, taking Best Comedy Supporting Actor at the Critics’ Choice Awards in 2015.

Since “Silicon Valley” began Miller’s star has been on the rise in general. He has done voice-acting work in “How to Train Your Dragon” and “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” as well as “Big Hero 6” and the upcoming “Emoji Movie.” He was also featured as Weasel in “Deadpool” and will return for the 2018 sequel to that superhero film. His upcoming projects also include “Ready Player One” and “How to Train Your Dragon 3.”

“Silicon Valley” has earned three consecutive Emmy nominations for Best Comedy Series, and last year it received its first acting citation when Middleditch was nominated for Best Comedy Actor. Miller hasn’t yet been nominated for his supporting role, but the show has increased its Emmy nominations total every year so far, and Miller’s role is exactly the kind of showy comic turn that voters gravitate to. Consider past winners like Sean Hayes (“Will & Grace”), Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”) and Tony Hale (“Veep”).

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